VIENNA, Austria: Austria has deported an Afghan national to Kabul for the first time since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan four years ago, according to an announcement on Tuesday by Chancellor Christian Stocker.
He confirmed that the individual had been “convicted of serious crimes,” and added that additional deportations are planned in the near future.
The move is part of the Austrian government’s broader push to curb illegal immigration — a key focus for the conservative-led coalition, which appears aimed at undercutting support for the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) by adopting tougher migration policies.
The current three-party centrist coalition took office in March after the FPO won the parliamentary election but was unable to form a ruling alliance. Despite being in opposition, the FPO continues to lead in national opinion polls.
“This morning, a man convicted of serious crimes was deported to Kabul — the first deportation to Afghanistan since 2021,” Chancellor Christian Stocker of the conservative Austrian People’s Party wrote on X.
“Austria is thus sending a clear message: zero tolerance for anyone who has forfeited their right to remain by committing criminal offences,” he added.
Wer sich nicht an unsere Regeln hält, muss gehen.
Heute Früh wurde ein wegen schwerer Straftaten verurteilter Mann nach Kabul abgeschoben – die erste Abschiebung nach Afghanistan seit 2021. Damit setzt Österreich ein klares Zeichen:
Null Toleranz gegenüber all jenen, die durch…
— Christian Stocker (@_CStocker) October 21, 2025
In July, Austria became the first European Union member state to deport a Syrian national back to Syria since the outbreak of the civil war, despite strong objections from human rights groups who argued it was still too early to determine whether conditions were safe.
Austria has also been signalling for months its intention to resume deportations to Afghanistan, despite facing similar criticism.
In response, Amnesty International issued a statement reaffirming that Afghanistan remains one of the most dangerous countries in the world.
“Anyone who deports people to a state that commits crimes against its own people is deliberately denying protection and breaking the law,” it said, adding: “This betrayal of human rights must be stopped immediately!”
Syria and Afghanistan remain the top countries of origin for asylum-seekers in Austria. The Austrian government has stated that, initially, deportations will focus primarily on individuals with criminal convictions.
“The Interior Ministry, under Gerhard Karner, is preparing additional deportations,” said Chancellor Christian Stocker.
The move comes just one day after the European Union announced it had “initiated exploratory contacts” with the Taliban administration to facilitate the return of failed Afghan asylum seekers.
A majority of EU member states have pushed Brussels to engage with Kabul in order to accelerate deportations.
